EFU:R Gossip, Major Events, and Rumors (IC Knowledge)

[ShadowCharlatan]

::[ Kythorn 19th : Year 161 : 1383 DR ]::

At long last, the revolutionaries occupying the Gould Mansion have been expunged. This is the tale of the dark, and a mood of relief washes through Upper Sanctuary. The expectation is for the Workmill to reopen, and Workers who took the Directorate's Deal to return to work.

The Scriveners of Doom are seen to move in on the Mansion, identifying bodies with the help of the friends and family of the dead rebels. The grief and rage is palpable in small, but noticeable ways as Sanctuary tries to mend. Among those bagged to the Mausoleum, it is said, was the leader of the revolutionaries: Thomas Blanqui.

Yet even so, there are those who say the troubles are not over. There were rebels that escaped the fray and fled, Mad Marge still jaunts through Dunwarren collecting blood tax, and the dissidents hiding out in the derelict streets of Lower Sanctuary are said to be swelling.

Indeed, the rumours speak of strange occurrences in the lower sections of the city, and the death of one Spellguard Agent Martulio Paub. But the details are vague. They talk of a settlement in the sewers, of gas and Chosen, of an old people from the darks of Sanctuary-that-was. Some adventurers even claim to have seen the likes of gangs and thugs, of pale families, of loners and freaks and madmen, crawling up from sewers below...

[ShadowCharlatan]

::[ Kythorn 26th : Year 161 : 1383 DR ]::

The cries from below echo, through wanderers, messengers, and rumour... speaking the same thing: "Lower Lives!"

The streets of Lower Sanctuary have been claimed again by living souls, from both above and below: The strange folk of Sewer Town, and the elves and men of the weary, shattered Revolution. The mood is difficult to place, so mixed it is, mingling defeat, fear, rebellion, opportunity, apprehension, and above all liberation.

In Lower, there are battles over food scraps, and there is worried talk of the Spellguard's campaign against the Chosen, of the gas that could be sent at any moment to wipe out the streets under noble pretenses.

In Upper, there is a furtive but growing debate mounted atop concerns of just what such a blatant settlement of the old "Sanctuary Below" will mean for Sanctuary as a whole, without a shield to hide and protect them from the many eyes of the depths... Lower Sanctuary's safety, and Upper Sanctuary's hidden nature each seem under graver threat than ever.

So too is there low talk in Upper of a coming election, and an opportunity for the Red Guild to take Sanctuary and leave its darks of isolation behind.

Meanwhile, the Agents of the Reformed Order of the Spellguard are seen to be entering and leaving the Workmill... along with Animatrons and Auxiliary all carrying mysterious cargo.

[Sternhund]

::[ Flamerule 30th : Year 161 : 1383 DR ]::

Denizens of Upper Sanctuary are becoming increasingly concerned as a serial killer, colloquially known as "The Gentleman Killer" has murdered three somewhat affluent men in the open streets of Upper Sanctuary. Watchers have begun taking longer patrols to catch the killer, while some ordinary citizens attempt to investigate on their own. Some, like Sal Pennerton, choose to use this opportunity for personal fame and fortune through journalism, while many other citizens begin to become upset with The Watchers for not having caught the killer sooner. A few citizens are heard doomsaying, mentioning that this is only the beginning of the end, where Sanctuary destroys itself from the inside without any help from the Dread Empire or any other external threats of the Underdark.

[AllMYBudgies]

::[ Midsummer, Flamerule : Year 161 : 1383 DR ]::

Upon the day that many would recall as Midsummer, a time of high heat and frivolity before the fall of Lathander, the Moldmire radiates a strong wave of heat throughout the caverns beyond Fort Mur and into the Badlands. The reminiscent message of Midsummer is not lost amid the irony of the violent conflict that blew through this unusual, fungal cavern recently.

Cries of battle, terrible echoes of singing fires and screeches of unknown horrors can be heard for many hours. In the dusted, bloodied mulch that remains long after these sounds are lost to the Underdark, evidence of a vicious struggle would be obvious to any that walked there.

This recently defiled and often reviled place certainly remains littered with the piles of dead, twisted fey creatures for days unknown. Many spiders that are contorted and stuck between high piles of fallen stalagmites and languishing amid the burned remnants of their ilk tell a horror story of what came to pass.

While the Moldmire burns with a furious energy that is certainly born through magical means, a cleansing fire that rips it's way through the cavern taking with it all infection and hellish abomination, signs of healing become obvious very quickly.

Many hands create light work, and whoever replants and tends this alien garden do so rapidly. New life begins to bloom amid the ashes of all that once was.

[Jayde Moon]

::[ Eleasis 5th : Year 161 : 1383 DR ]::

For reasons inexplicable to the people of Sanctuary, the town and surrounding areas were besieged by countless swarms of giant spider hatchlings.  More than a handful of citizens and residents of Upper and Lower died after suffering several horrible bites but most people were able to find shelter and safety from the swarms.

Several adventurers made a concerted effort to clear away as many of the spiders as they could, stomping them under foot as they went.  There is speculation as to the source of the spiders, from Drow to the odd woman who is known to worship and command the foul arachnids, but each theory is discounted in turn.

Another mystery surrounds how the spiders 'entered' into the Shield.  Answers are not forthcoming and eventually the citizenry write it off as just another dangerous and strange occurrence that comes with living in the depths of the Dark.

[Big Orc Man]

A small handful of Watchers within the past fortnight have turned in their badges, forsaking Sanctuary for the greener pastures of Lower Dunwarren.

Each member of this trickle of defectors has cited excessive use of authority by Prefect Abala Quickfeet as their primary reason for leaving.  They claim that the chain of command has broken down, and a civilian should not control the Watchers.  More than a few can be heard grumbling about Evvin Maurice...

Other Watchers, however, defend her heavy-handed approach, citing her heroism, her immense popularity with the populace at large, and her divine blessing in these dark times.  They insist that a pure-hearted warrior leader who can rally the people is necessary to keep Sanctuary together.

[Sternhund]

Many citizens in Upper Sanctuary gossip about the open killing of a new tailor in the city by an elf. Some claim this elf is The Gentleman Killer, but soon after it was announced publicly that The Watchers are setting up Brelm Blazon for trial as The Gentleman Killer within the week. Rumors range incredibly in variety, with a couple claiming that Brelm Blazon must have been enthralled by The Dread Empire to act so rashly.

[Big Orc Man]

Word spreads like wildfire that the proprietor of the Forge of Legend, the blacksmith Droggus Munt was, along with his Forge Assistant, executed by the Spellguard for an extremely long list of crimes.  

The formal announcement shocked many with its immediacy, but others insist that the Spellguard know what they're doing and that such a legendary smith would not be killed lightly.

The adventurers are hit the hardest by the loss, lamenting the missed opportunities of past and future.

[AllMYBudgies]

::[ Eleasis 15th : Year 161 : 1383 DR ]::

Whimsical whispers play up to all kinds of old and inherent superstitions amongst the residents of Sanctuary. Mentions of Black Cats ambling by before vanishing into shadows, clumsy accidents and unfortunate circumstances left in their wake. Chatter about sightings of White Kittens and a host of unexpected, fortunate events being reported soon afterwards.

If nothing else, this fritter of gossip provides a few smiles or raised eyebrows. However, others with a more knowing understanding of the Mistress of Luck, are seen to make quick and nervous religious markings in the air, warding themselves from her gaze and averting her attention to those who would blaspheme the fickle hand of fate.

[Sternhund]

Watchers on patrol quietly complain about new ruling within The Watchers. Lieutenant Pond's displeasure regarding The Watcher's lack of success in capturing the recent string of serial killers has resulted in the implementation of arresting quotas. Watchers, nervous about not being able to make quotas, are seen arresting the citizenry on more liberal interpretations of the Book of Law.

[Canzah]

Great patches of ice cover parts of the Low Road and Crossroad Caves.

Some say they are the result of recent cold winds that have been sweeping over the Underdark, others speak of odd groups of winter creatures roaming in the darkness. There is even talk of a furious frost giant doing battle with some of Sanctuary's bravest in the Crossroad.

Most seem to agree however that a series of cold lights were seen above Low Road on the 16th of Eleasis, after a Spellguard Agent left the town for some manner of experimentation.

[Jayde Moon]

::[ Eleasis 24th : Year 161 : 1383 DR ]::

A sending was made by Director Crane of the Black Guild.

Good day, Citizens of Sanctuary.  This is Director Crane speaking.  In keeping with the Philosophies of the Black Guild, I am pleased to announce that the Directorate has seen to the reclamation and cleaning of two properties now vailable for rent by the public.  One is a Merchant Hall for an enterprising and estimable Merchant of our City.  The other is a Barracks that might be utilyzed by those more militarily minded.  As with all properties, these are generally reserved for those who have worked towards the good of Sanctuary.  If you believe you have the prestige to reside in any of our properties, please see a Civil Servant to discuss tenancy.  Thank you.

While many who have allegiance to the Black Guild are quick to point out that these improvements to the town are just the sort of thing that the Black Guild pushes, many in the Red Guild mutter that it was their idea and the Black Guild are merely taking credit.

Black Guild members scoff and point out that the Red Guild would never be too late to crow about their accomplishments while Red Guild members point out that the nature of the properties indicates Red Guild involvement.

Several citizens quickly attempted to rent these properties but were turned down by Civil Servants for a variety of reasons.

[Calculor]

Rumors quickly spread that the Lower Sanctuary menace known as the Pissrats were either destroyed or dealt a serious blow by a mysterious figure known only as Gorbengolt...

The name Chequon is also mentioned. Whatever the cause, the citizens of Lower rejoice in the gang's lowered activity.

[LiAlH4]

::[ Eleasis 29th : Year 161 : 1383 DR ]::

Word comes out from the Workmill that production, it seems, has run into a materials shortage which is keeping men and animatrons from their duties. A lack of refined copper, of all things, seems to be the issue, apparently a critical component in all manner of alloys and devices.

Other materials are being used for the moment, however, it was said that in response to this Director Gould himself spoke before a crowd of adventurers, personally selecting and authorizing a group of six that could go out and investigate rumors of a large deposit somewhere in the region. This done, apparently as elsewhere in the 'dark five unlucky adventurers were killed in some manner of explosion, the group seems to have returned with reports of success.

The Black Guild has immediately risen to criticize Gould's haste and rash action, as they would call it, pointing out that any mining effort would be taking place outside the shield, exposing Sanctuary to countless dangers. The response from the Reds follows that, sans scouring the Underdark, only active mining of the Machine itself will keep Sanctuary's industries functioning (prohibited by the Spellguard), and that raw materials must come from somewhere, else swords, arrows, tools, and all manner of worked goods fall into short supply.

All the while, rumors of an upcoming election swirl...

[Big Orc Man]

Rumors begin to circulate through Lower Sanctuary (and subsequently, in a distorted form, through Upper Sanctuary) that an old prostitute relieving herself in the canal witnessed a peculiar sight indeed.
 
As she told it, she witnessed an entourage of Spellguard near the sewers by the canal, five all told.  Four of them were escorting a fifth who had been shackled.
 
The old whore claims that the shackled man, in a feat of sudden and super-human ability, shattered his shackles and slew his four captors with an arcane barrage.  After she ceased to avert her eyes, a grinning man in a hood stood among the dead, greeting the surviving Spellguard Agent with a short embrace.
 
The grinning man passed the survivor a smoldering parcel that stank of brimstone and cinders, and strolled into the sewers.
 
The survivor vanished in a pillar of rock and flame.
 
Many cast doubts upon this ridiculous anecdote, but the Spellguard denies than any of their personnel were harmed in any way, calling this story the ramblings of a delusional woman.